~Dental

Reprinted with permission of Life Extension®.

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums usually caused by plaque buildup that is the result of inadequate brushing and flossing, causing the gums to become inflamed, swollen, and to bleed easily. If it isn't treated, tooth loss can occur. Plaque, a soft, sticky film primarily made up of bacteria, will harden after 72 hours into tartar, which can't be removed by brushing or flossing. This is why the best defense against gingivitis is brushing and flossing after meals, as well as professional cleaning by a dental hygienist every 3 to 4 months depending upon the individual tendency to build up plaque. Plaque buildup occurs between the teeth and gums, in faulty fillings, and around the teeth near poorly cleaned partial dentures, bridges, and braces. Even though the main cause of gingivitis is plaque buildup, there are other causes for the disease. Birth control pills, cyclosporine (taken by people who have had organ transplants), and nifedipine (taken to control blood pressure and disturbances in the heart rhythms) are just a few of the medications that can cause gingivitis. Vitamin C and niacin deficiency can also result in gingivitis.

Treatment

If gingivitis is left untreated it can lead to periodontal disease, which affects the gum tissue, bone, and the supporting tissues of the teeth. The warning signs of the disease are a bad taste in the mouth, bad breath, red or swollen gums, tender gums, bleeding gums, loose teeth, sensitive teeth, pain when chewing, pus around teeth and gums, and brown, hard deposits, called calculus, on the surface of the teeth. The best treatment for gingivitis is prevention with good dental hygiene as described above.

It's best to start instilling good oral hygiene in a child as early as infancy. Before the teeth start to come in, the infant's gums should be thoroughly cleaned after each feeding with a water-soaked washcloth to stimulate the gum tissue and remove food. When the baby's teeth begin to come in, the teeth should be brushed gently with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush using a small amount of fluoridated toothpaste. At the age of 2 or 3, the child can be taught the proper brushing techniques. Because the child doesn't have the dexterity to do it alone, the parent should follow it up with brushing and gentle flossing until the age of 8. The child should start seeing a dentist about the age of 1 so the primary teeth can be checked for cavities and any other problems.

Studies show that adolescents should exercise proper oral hygiene care at home because three quarters of all 13-to 17-year-olds have gums that bleed. Teens should brush thoroughly after all meals and floss daily. Choosing a proper diet should help maintain and preserve their teeth. For those teens who wear braces, special attention should be paid to keeping the spaces between the teeth and archwires clean by using floss threaders.

Adults should practice good oral hygiene and see the dentist every 6 months because periodontal disease is the most common cause of tooth loss. These regular visits are usually painless and the dentist will be able to detect any periodontal disease an adult may have that's in the early stages.

Seniors can suffer from a wide range of problems, including root decay. Older people who suffer from arthritis should adapt their toothbrush for easy use, for instance, by enlarging the handle. This can be done by inserting the handle into a rubber ball, inserting it into a sponge hair curler, or glueing it into a bicycle grip. Studies confirm that electric toothbrushes are excellent at removing plaque and effective in stimulating the gums.

An Oral Spray for Gingivitis

Specific nutrients have been shown to prevent and alleviate gingivitis. Up until now, no one has put all of these nutrients into one topical form that could be effectively applied directly to the gums.

A pioneering physician, Dr. Jonathan Wright, and his associate, Dr. Donald Carter, have formulated a topical mouth spray that has produced significant results in those suffering from periodontal disease. Dr. Jonathan Wright gained national fame after his offices were ransacked by the FDA in 1993. Dr. Wright's political retaliation against the agency helped motivate Congress to pass the bill in 1994 that kept the FDA from turning dietary supplements into drugs. Drs. Wright and Carter have codeveloped a topical nutritional therapy for the prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases. The active ingredients in this oral spray are substantiated in peer-reviewed scientific studies. Many of the "inactive" ingredients have been successfully used by nutritionally oriented dentists to treat various gum diseases.

Drs. Wright and Carter have taken the extraordinary step of designing a formula that contains eight active ingredients that are documented to prevent and treat gum disease, plaque formation, and tooth decay. There are 21 additional ingredients that have been used in nutritional dentistry to prevent and treat a wide range of oral diseases. These ingredients are emulsified into a patented delivery system that guarantees stability and resultant action. A number of studies published in several well known journals and documented in Life Extension Magazine attest to the effectiveness of these active ingredients.

Folic acid has been clinically tested in mouthwash solutions to assess its benefit in treating gingivitis. One study showed that after 4 weeks of using a folic acid mouthwash, significant improvement occurred compared to placebo. In this controlled study involving 60 patients, dietary folic acid intake did not correlate with treatment results, suggesting the importance of applying folic acid topically to the gums (Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 1984 11:619-28).

In a double-blind study on 30 pregnant women, the effects of folic acid mouthwash, folic acid tablets, or placebo were evaluated. After 28 days, folate serum levels increased significantly in both groups receiving folic acid, but only the group receiving the folic acid mouthwash showed a highly significant improvement in a Gingival Index. There were no significant changes in the Plaque Index (Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 1982, 9[3]:275-80).

Thirty patients with normal blood folate levels were studied in a clinical setting. One group rinsed their mouths daily with a folate solution and the other used a placebo mouth rinse. After 60 days, the group receiving the folic acid rinse showed significant improvement in gingival health compared to the placebo group (Journal of Oral Medicine, 1978, 33[1]:20-22).

An experimental study on contraceptive users with normal plasma folate levels demonstrated improved gingival health after receiving supplementation with topical folic acid for 60 days (Journal of Preventive Dentistry, 1980, 6:221). A double-blind study was conducted on 30 patients comparing supplementation with 4000 mcg of ingested folic acid to placebo. After 1 month, based on plaque and gingival indices, folic acid supplementation appeared to increase the resistance of the gingiva to local irritants leading to a reduction in inflammation (Journal of Periodontology, 1976, 47[11]:667-68).

Green tea extract was shown to topically inhibit concentrations of Streptococcus mutans bacteria, which have been implicated in the development of dental caries (the decay and breaking down of teeth and their bone support). The scientists suggested that certain extracts from green tea might be especially helpful in preventing tooth decay by preventing the development of bacterial plaque (Chem Pharm Bull-Japan, Mar 1990, 38[3]).

In a Chinese study, green tea extract was used to rinse and brush the teeth. The study demonstrated that S. mutans could be inhibited completely after contact with green tea extract for 5 minutes. There was no drug resistance after repeat cultures. The clinical effects showed that the Plaque Index and Gingival Index decreased significantly after green tea extract was used to rinse and brush the teeth. The scientists concluded that green tea extract is an effective agent to prevent dental caries (Chiang Hsueh Tsa Chih [China], Jul 1993, 28 [4]).

The name of this new oral spray is MistORAL II. It contains a broad spectrum of nutrients that function by a variety of mechanisms to help prevent diseases of the mouth, including gingivitis and tooth decay. We have heard from consumers that gum bleeding stops just 4 days after using this new oral spray. Some people carry these 2-ounce bottles with them when dining out so that they can spray their mouths clean after each meal.

MistORAL II contains the following impressive list of ingredients to support the health of the mouth:

Many dentists recommend Coenzyme Q10 for periodontal and gum disease. MistORAL II provides B vitamins such as folic acid to keep the gums healthy and vital; a broad-spectrum antibacterial combination to kill the bacteria that are the root cause of gum disease; specific nutrients to overcome inflammation; and vitamin K1 to tame excessive bleeding, protect against decay, and facilitate healthy gum metabolism.

The best documented area of preventative medicine is modern dentistry. MistORAL II adds a potent new weapon to the arsenal of oral hygiene therapies available to maintain healthy gum tissue. The suggested use is twice a day after brushing and carried on person when away from home.

Other Alternative Treatments

Proper oral hygiene is still required for the relief of gingivitis. Vitamin supplements, coenzyme Q10, and green tea can also alleviate the symptoms.

Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) can be used as an oral rinse (3 drops into a small glass of water and swishing vigorously in the mouth for 30 seconds or more) or on the toothbrush, with or without toothpaste. GSE can kill the bacteria that cause plaque and gingivitis.

The standard dose of Life Extension Mix (3 tablets, 3 times a day) can improve the health of your gums. Life Extension Mix provides more than 2500 mg of vitamin C. Also, coenzyme Q10 in oil-filled capsules should be taken in 100-to 200-mg daily doses. Green tea beverages provide direct bacteria-killing, plaque-inhibiting effects for the gums. Standardized green tea capsules providing 200 mg a day of polyphenols can be used to help deliver gingiva-protecting nutrients.

For people suffering from chronic gingivitis, the regular use of Life Extension Mouthwash provides every nutrient shown to be of benefit topically for the health of your gums. One study showed that zinc and folic acid can inhibit gingivitis, and Life Extension Mouthwash contains the identical amount of zinc and folic acid used in this study. Life Extension Mouthwash also contains a chlorophyll extract, sanguinaria extract, vitamin E, aloe vera, and caprylic acid. All contribute to the health and healing of the gums via different mechanisms.

Summary

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums in which the gums get red and swollen and bleed easily. Plaque buildup along the gum line of the teeth is the usual cause of gingivitis. Simple gingivitis can be prevented with the daily use of a toothbrush and dental floss, and with visits to the dentist every 3 to 6 months. If left untreated, gingivitis can cause periodontal disease and tooth loss.

MistORAL, twice a day after brushing and carried on person when away from home.

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